Catherine held up her cup and cheerfully exclaimed.

“Your Highness!”

“…”

“Oh, why are you looking at me like that?”

She took a sip of the sweet black tea and smiled with natural ease. Sezlin, also holding a teacup, was left speechless at the sight. Catherine had asked to be pushed around, yet here she was laughing and chattering, looking completely comfortable as if she were in her own home.

Perhaps because of this, the nearby maids kept exchanging glances. But surprisingly, Sezlin didn’t stop her.

“When are you leaving? We’ve already taken all your measurements.”

“How cold of you. Are you trying to send me away already?”

“Really…”

She couldn’t even respond.

Sezlin frowned and drank her coffee. Catherine, holding her cup with both hands, glanced at her. Having spent years in social circles, she was quite perceptive. After spending a few hours with Sezlin, what she felt was:

‘You’re similar.’

Overall, she was similar to Ludwig. The only difference might be that Sezlin was more beautiful.

“Your Highness.”

At that form of address, Sezlin firmly said:

“Lady.”

“…Lady.”

But who was she dealing with?

Catherine’s eyes sparkled as she said:

“Lady, you seem to resemble my lord.”

“!”

Sezlin put down her teacup rather hastily. Her furrowed face clearly revealed her bewilderment. By then, she had already forgotten that Catherine had slyly called her “Your Highness.”

“Why, why that expression?”

“…What’s wrong with my expression?”

“It’s exactly the same as when I flirted with you.”

Sezlin immediately became serious.

“I wasn’t offended.”

“Oh, I know. But it’s more like, ‘what’s with this person’…”

“Catherine.”

Catherine shrugged her shoulders and smiled brightly. They say you can’t spit on a smiling face. When someone responds so innocently, it becomes awkward to get angry. Sezlin sighed and turned her gaze away. Unlike the bustling atmosphere around them, she could see a rather serene landscape.

“Do you like quiet?”

“Will you be quiet then?”

“No. At this point?”

Sezlin exhaled irritably.

Without realizing it, she thought, that’s true.

“Still, Lady, you’re an angel.”

“Angel?”

Sezlin’s face contorted as if she had bitten into a bug. It was a description she’d never heard before. Angel? Nothing could be more unsuitable than that word.

“Other ladies gasp when I act like this. Then they talk behind my back, but they still seek me out because they like my skills.”

“…”

“In contrast, you’re an angel, Lady. Enduring calmly.”

Sezlin let out a snort of laughter. It was quite fascinating that Catherine could be so confident despite knowing all this.

“Oh, and.”

“What now?”

“I’m telling you this in case you misunderstand.”

Catherine, uncharacteristically looking around, murmured:

“I have no feelings whatsoever for my lord.”

At those words, Sezlin’s expression became peculiar. Catherine, adjusting her posture, continued:

“As you know, the social world is mostly rumors, instigation, and fabrication. Just in case, I’m telling you I have absolutely no personal interest in my lord.”

Of course, Ludwig was indeed very handsome. Personally, she found her lord far better than the scrawny Friedrich. But that was just Catherine’s objective view. It was certainly not romantic attraction.

She preferred kind people. Taciturn people who only knew swords weren’t her type. Rather than that side:

“I like that assistant. The one close to my lord. You’ve probably met him too, Lady?”

“Ah.”

Sezlin easily recalled one person.

“Anyway, so there won’t be any unnecessary scandal.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

After all, theirs was a contractual relationship. Moreover, the one who had stated there would be no love during their alliance period was Sezlin herself. Ludwig had agreed to this, and Sezlin had no intention of taking back her words.

‘Love, huh.’

The corner of her mouth twisted. As if she were some naive child. What was important to Sezlin now was bringing down the Second Prince, not wasting time on emotional games. Such luxury was not affordable.

“But you two look good together.”

“Madam.”

“Yes, I’ll be quiet.”

Being called “Madam” was the final warning. Catherine quickly lowered her tail. She knew that Sezlin was being lenient with her.

“By the way, since he sent me, he’ll probably send a guard soon too.”

“You seem to know my situation.”

The gaze looking at Catherine gradually narrowed.

Seeing the wariness in her eyes, Catherine hurriedly waved her hands.

“I don’t know the details. Just Lady’s objective, shall we say. Some about the mine. That’s all I know.”

“Is that so?”

Catherine earnestly proclaimed her innocence. The gaze staring at her slowly softened.

“He’ll assign someone skilled as a guard.”

Sezlin nodded leisurely. In truth, it didn’t matter who served as her guard as long as they were skilled. She had contracted with Ludwig, not with them. There would be no need for separate communication, and she wouldn’t create such occasions.

It would be good if they just had some sense.

‘And were quiet.’

Sezlin took a sip of her slightly cooled coffee. As she glanced at Catherine, the latter said with an anxious face:

“You just thought you’d prefer someone unlike me, didn’t you?”

“Hmm.”

Sezlin didn’t bother to answer.

Catherine felt inexplicably wronged. Her prim eyes quickly drooped.

“I’m already restraining myself a lot.”

“Try restraining yourself half as much again.”

At the firm response, Catherine pressed her lips together. After heaving a deep sigh, she began to speak:

“Since he won’t leave the guard position vacant for long, by now someone should have been assigned…”

That’s when it happened.

“Aaaagh!”

Thud. Something fell to the ground.

“Kuhak!”

It was a person.

“…He had already assigned someone, I see.”

Catherine, who had been speaking, quickly changed her tone. Sezlin stared at the object that had fallen beside her. It was a sudden threat. But perhaps due to her previous matchmaking experience, Sezlin didn’t panic like before.

“Aaaah! Aah! Ah!”

“…”

Screams escaped from the face lying on the grass. It was quite noisy. Sezlin furrowed her elegant brow. Catherine’s shock followed.

Simultaneously, a long shadow fell over her.

Sezlin, putting down her cup, raised her chin.

She met empty eyes.

Sezlin fluttered her well-raised eyelashes. Given the timely appearance, it wasn’t difficult to deduce who this was.

A pointed heel turned toward the fallen assassin.

“Remove it.”

* * *

Before going to the First Prince’s palace.

A maid stood in front of a mirror, arranging her clothes. Her neatly tied-up hair didn’t have a single loose strand. The maid, who habitually raised the corners of her lips, nodded.

Just as footsteps were heard, she turned around as if she had been waiting.

“You’ve arrived, Head Chamberlain.”

“You haven’t forgotten what I said?”

At the cautious question, the maid smiled brightly.

“Don’t worry, Head Chamberlain. I’m glad I can finally play my role.”

“I’m counting on you.”

The maid emphasized again not to worry.

Only then did the Head Chamberlain feel relieved and added:

“If you do well with this task, His Grace said he would make you the Second Empress’s personal maid.”

“Really?”

The maid’s face immediately brightened. The Second Empress’s personal maid. With the Empress position vacant, it was a position coveted by all palace maids.

“Once a day, you said?”

“Yes. For the time being, come here every day at this time.”

The maid, who answered that she understood, bowed her head obediently. A satisfied smile fell on her head. But beneath the lowered head, a viscous desire was revealed.

‘It’s just monitoring that woman.’

No matter how much trouble she caused, it was within the imperial palace. With the Second Empress guarding, whatever that woman did would have no impact.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

The maid, having made her calculations, raised her chin.

* * *

“Your Highness.”

“Lady.”

Sezlin pointed out the subtly omitted title.

“…L-Lady.”

Catherine, who had moved close to her side, whispered:

“Do you know who that person is?”

“My guard, I suppose.”

She had noticed from the moment he caught the assassin, but the man protecting Sezlin was indeed the guard sent by Ludwig. They said his skills were top-notch. Sezlin hadn’t even felt him approaching her.

“W-well, yes.”

Catherine glanced at him as he took his place near the table. With dark green hair like leaves, he possessed mysterious purple eyes. His face, revealed under the sunlight, was more refined than most nobles.

However, Catherine knew very well what kind of person this man was. She couldn’t believe he would send someone like him. Recalling the past, Catherine shuddered.

“Who is this person?”

Her reaction was so conspicuous that Sezlin finally spoke. Seizing the opportunity, Catherine cleared her throat. The eyes filled with emptiness were still directed at the ground.

“Well, you’ll find out soon enough.”

“…”

Sezlin naturally looked at her.

Catherine, lowering her voice as much as possible, moved her lips:

“He tried to assassinate someone.”

Who? Sezlin gestured for her to continue.

Catherine exhaled and said:

“His Highness the First Prince.”